Pochaiv is a city in the Ternopil Oblast, a well-known pilgrimage center for Christians. After all, it is here that the largest Orthodox monastery of Western Ukraine is located - the Pochaiv Lavra.
The first written mention of the city dates back to the middle of the 15th century. Although archaeologists found household items from the Neolithic era here. According to one of the legends, during the Mongol-Tatar invasion, part of the monks from Kyiv moved here from the monastery on the Pochayna River, which gave the name to the future city.
By the end of the 18th century, Pochaiv was owned by various Lithuanian-Polish noblemen. In 1795, as a result of the third partition of Poland, it was transferred to the Russian Empire. Pochaiv acquired the status of a city recently — in 1978.
Of course, this is the Pochaiv Assumption Lavra, which is the second largest in Ukraine after Kyiv-Pechersk, and is part of the Kremenets-Pochaiv state historical and architectural reserve. The temple was first mentioned in written sources in 1527. In 1597, a representative of the local nobility, Anna Goyska, presented him with a miraculous icon of the Mother of God, which is still kept in the Dormition Cathedral above the Tsar's Gate, and founded a monastery here. Today, the Lavra complex includes the Trinity, Holy Dormition and Transfiguration Cathedrals, 5 churches and temples, chapels, cells, the over-gate building, the Bishop's House, the summer altar, etc.
Another famous shrine in Pochayev is the Holy Spirit Hermitage, in the place where, according to legend, the founder of the Pochayev Lavra, the Athos monk Methodius, settled. Here are his relics and a miraculous icon.
History and art museum, opened in 1959. The exposition, which is now located in the historical premises of the bank, tells about the history of the monastery, the sacred art of Volyn, the role of Pochaev in the life of T. Shevchenko.
